Between the Pages - Books I Read in 2013

What an amazing year 2013 was for me in regards to reading! I set a new record for the number of books read within one year (my database total was 270 and my Goodreads Challenge total was 285). I reread several newer books: The Fifty Shades Trilogy (9th reading), Beauty from Pain, and Surrender Your Love. I also bought and read the Kindle versions of a few books I read years ago: Slow Heat in Heaven, Where There's Smoke, It Had to Be You, and Family Blessings. I borrowed 16 titles through our library system and purchased a total of 379 books—mostly Kindle, but also audiobooks and a few signed paperbacks. Only 7 of the books were not categorized as any kind of romance, and all of those were mysteries.

I meticulously reviewed my database and Goodreads shelves in selecting the favorites listed below. I arbitrarily decided upon the categories but was careful in considering which books deserved each designation.

I'm all about focusing on the positive when it comes to books, but in 2013 I also ended up adding more books (8) to my did-not-finish shelf than in any previous year. Although, I hope to return to two of the books at some point.

The books I've chosen as my favorites are the ones that evoked the most emotions ("feels") in me. Those whose characters I cared about the most and whose stories I didn't want to end. *dreamy sigh*

2013 was also the year I attended my first author signing. I had hoped to go to Book Bash in Orlando last June but that wasn't possible. Instead, I was able to attend the Richmond Author Event, which was ideal in location and size for this first-timer. I can't adequately express how joyful I felt being there amongst so many of "my" authors and the other passionate readers. My fingers are crossed that the event organizers plan another event for Richmond in 2014.

Jennifer L. Armentrout and Me

The photos I took at the event plus all the autographs I received are here:

• Richmond Author Event (Flickr Photo Album)

I will be welcoming 2014 with over 100 books and audiobooks on my to-be-read shelf. Not only am I anxious to read the upcoming books I listed below, but I'm also anticipating the unexpected gems that end up on my reading device. I look forward to being in the proper mood to read some of the literature, general fiction, and non-fiction Kindle books I already have, and I very much hope to finally get that Kindle Paperwhite I've been wanting for so long. I've read nearly 700 books on my tiny iPod touch and am more than ready to graduate to a larger eReader.

I'd love to know what you think, and I wish you very enjoyable reading in 2014! 

My Favorites Published in 2013

(alphabetical by author)

Single Titles

True Love Story by Willow Aster (reviewed here)
Forever, Jack by Natasha Boyd (reviewed here)
Beauty from Pain (Beauty #1) by Georgia Cates (reviewed here)
Tangled (Tangled #1) by Emma Chase (reviewed here)
Striking Distance (I-Team #6) by Pamela Clare
Wicked Beat (Sinners on Tour #4) by Olivia Cunning
Try (Temptation #1) by Ella Frank
This Girl (Slammed #3) by Colleen Hoover
Beautiful Stranger (The Beautiful Series #2) by Christina Lauren
Beautiful Player (The Beautiful Series #3) by Christina Lauren
Eyes Wide Open (The Blackstone Affair #4) by Raine Miller
Nocturne by Andrea Randall and Charles Sheehan-Miles
Lick (Stage Dive #1) by Kylie Scott (reviewed here)

Series Titles

Driven Trilogy - Driven by K. Bromberg
His Wicked Games Series - His Wicked Games by Ember Casey (reviewed here)
The Real Series - Real by Katy Evans
The Stark Trilogy - Release Me, Claim Me, and Complete Me by J. Kenner (reviewed here, here, and here)
Inside Out Series - Being Me and Revealing Us by Lisa Renee Jones
The Secret Life of Amy Bensen - Escaping Reality and Infinite Possibilities by Lisa Renee Jones
Fixed Series - Fixed on You) by Laurelin Paige
With Me in Seattle Series - Play With Me, Rock With Me, and Safe With Me by Kristen Proby
The Fighting Series - Fighting for Flight and Fighting to Forgive by J.B. Salsbury

Favorites by Category

Favorite Mainstream Romance - Two of a Kind (Fool's Gold #11) by Susan Mallery, (runner up) Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts
Favorite Contemporary Romance - Forever, Jack by Natasha Boyd (reviewed here)
Favorite Romantic Suspense - Striking Distance by Pamela Clare, (runner up) Deadline by Sandra Brown
Favorite Inspirational Romance - Losing Hope (Hopeless #2) by Colleen Hoover
Favorite Paranormal Romance - Blood and Sand (Elemental World #2) by Elizabeth Hunter
Favorite New Adult Romance - Wait for You by J. Lynn (reviewed here), (runner up) One Tiny Lie (Ten Tiny Breaths #2) by K.A. Tucker (reviewed here)
Favorite Romantic Novella - (tie) First Strike by Pamela Clare and Light Me Up by Cherrie Lynn
Favorite Romantic Series - The Stark Trilogy (Release Me, Claim Me, and Complete Me) by J. Kenner
Favorite Audiobook - Eyes Wide Open (The Blackstone Affair #3) by Raine Miller and narrated by Shane East with Grace Grant, (runner up) Beautiful Stranger (The Beautiful Series #2) by Christina Lauren and narrated by Jonathan R. Cole and Grace Grant
Favorite Mystery - Death Angel (Alexandra Cooper #15) by Linda Fairstein (reviewed here)
Favorite Romantic Hero - Jack Henry McLachlan (The Beauty Series by Georgia Cates)
Favorite Romantic Heroine - Laurelyn Prescott (The Beauty Series by Georgia Cates)
Favorite Romantic Couple - Damien Stark and Nikki Fairchild (The Stark Trilogy by J. Kenner)
Favorite Alpha Male - Remington Tate (The Real Series) (Remy reviewed here) by Katy Evans
Favorite Debut Author - Willow Aster for True Love Story, (runner up) Leah Raeder for Unteachable

Most Pleasant Surprise - Ruin by Rachel Van Dyken
Most Luscious Romance - No More Wasted Time by Beverly Preston (reviewed here)
Most Erotic Romance - Edible (Exquisite #3) by Ella Frank, (runner up) This Man Confessed (This Man #3) by Jodi Ellen Malpas
Most Outside My Comfort Zone - Never Have I Ever by August Clearwing
Most Heartrending - Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (I'm cheating by one day with this one which was published on December 31, 2012!)
Most Humorous - Tangled by Emma Chase
Most Tormented Hero - Ethan Blackstone from Eyes Wide Open by Raine Miller
Most "Kick-Ass" Heroine - Brooke Dumas from The Real Series by Katy Evans
Most Guilty Pleasure (Love them through all their darkness!) - The Consequences Series (Consequences, Truth, and Convicted by Aleatha Romig, (runner up) The Artists Trilogy (On Every Street, Sins & Needles, Shooting Scars, and Bold Tricks by Karina Halle
Most Striking Cover - Eversea by Natasha Boyd

Most Anticipated Books of 2014

Crashed (Driven #3) by K. Bromberg
Beauty from Love (Beauty #3) by Georgia Cates
Twisted (Tangled #2) and Tamed (Tangled #3) by Emma Chase
Sinners at the Altar (Sinners on Tour #6) and Sinners in Paradise (Sinners on Tour #7) by Olivia Cunning
Captivated by You (Crossfire #4) by Sylvia Day
Fatal Jeopardy (Fatal #7) by Marie Force
Written in My Own Heart's Blood (Outlander #8) by Diana Gabaldon
Maybe Someday and Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
No In Between (Inside Out #4) by Lisa Renee Jones
Hard As You Can (Hard Ink #2) by Laura Kaye
Be with Me (Wait for You #2) by J. Lynn
Rare and Precious Things (The Blackstone Affair #4) by Raine Miller
Forever with You (Fixed #3) by Laurelin Paige
The Raven (expected publication date 02/03/2015) by Sylvain Reynard
Play (Stage Dive #2) and Lead (Stage Dive #3) by Kylie Scott
Breakable by Tammara Webber

 Individual First Time Reads of 2013

(The (a) following a book's title designates an audiobook.
A rating of zero denotes a book that defies a rating.
Table best viewed in landscape mode on mobile devices.)

Author	Title	Publication Year	Reading Date	My Rating
Adams, Dee J.	Living Dangerously	2013	5/24/2013	8
Adler, Unknown; Holt, Unknown	Champagne Showers	2012	6/22/2013	6
Adler, Unknown; Holt, Unknown	Shattered	2013	6/23/2013	8
Adler, Unknown; Holt, Unknown	Surrendered	2013	6/23/2013	6
Alcott, Kate	The Dressmaker	2012	3/20/2013	8
Allred , Katherine	The Sweet Gum Tree	2005	5/25/2013	10
Amelie, Fisher	Vain	2012	4/18/2013	10
Amelie, Fisher	Greed	2013	12/24/2013	6
Andre, Bella	One Perfect Night	2013	7/28/2013	8
Anthony, Raine	Phoenix	2013	10/24/2013	8
Ashley, Katie	Music of the Heart	2013	3/30/2013	6
Ashley, Kristen	Own the Wind	2013	4/2/2013	0
Ashley, Kristen	Fire Inside	2013	6/7/2013	0
Ashley, Kristen	Raid	2013	2/28/2013	0
Aster, Willow	In the Fields	2013	9/17/2013	10
Aster, Willow	True Love Story	2013	3/4/2013	10
Banks, Maya	Rush	2013	5/7/2013	6
Banks, Maya	Fever	2013	5/17/2013	8
Banks, Maya	Burn	2013	9/23/2013	8
Bowen, Rhys	The Face in the Mirror	2013	3/9/2013	8
Bowen, Rhys	The Family Way	2013	4/10/2013	8
Boyd, Natasha	Eversea	2013	6/11/2013	10
Boyd, Natasha	Forever, Jack	2013	11/30/2013	10
Bromberg, K.	Driven	2013	12/26/2013	8
Bromberg, K.	Fueled	2013	12/29/2013	8
Brown, Sandra	Deadline	2013	10/1/2013	10
Brown, Sandra	Slow Heat in Heaven	2013	3/19/2013	10
Brown, Sandra	Slow Heat in Heaven (a)	2008	8/26/2013	8
Brown, Sandra	Where There's Smoke	2013	5/25/2013	10
Cameron, Chelsea M.	Deeper We Fall	2013	2/5/2013	8
Cameron, Chelsea M.	Faster We Burn	2013	4/21/2013	8
Cameron, Chelsea M.	Sweet Surrendering	2013	11/15/2013	8
Carlino, Renee	Sweet Thing	2013	7/25/2013	8
Carmack, Cora	Losing It	2012	3/17/2013	8
Carmack, Cora	Keeping Her	2013	10/26/2013	8
Carmack, Cora	Faking It	2013	6/16/2013	8
Carmack, Cora	Finding It	2013	11/10/2013	8
Carr, Robyn	A Summer in Sonoma	2010	1/24/2013	8
Carr, Robyn	The Wanderer	2013	3/27/2013	8
Carr, Robyn	The Newcomer	2013	7/7/2013	8
Carr, Robyn	The Hero	2013	9/3/2013	4
Casey, Elle	Shine Not Burn	2013	7/12/2013	6
Casey, Ember	His Wicked Games	2013	8/28/2013	10
Casey, Ember	Truth or Dare	2013	8/29/2013	10
Casey, Ember	Sweet Victory	2013	11/21/2013	8
Cates, Georgia	Beauty from Pain	2013	3/12/2013	10
Cates, Georgia	Beauty from Surrender	2013	5/30/2013	10
Chase, Emma	Tangled	2013	5/27/2013	10
Chase, Emma	Holy Frigging Matrimony	2013	12/5/2013	8
Clare, Pamela	Extreme Exposure (a)	2012	6/18/2013	8
Clare, Pamela	Hard Evidence (a)	2012	6/5/2013	8
Clare, Pamela	Unlawful Contact (a)	2012	7/29/2013	8
Clare, Pamela	Naked Edge (a)	2012	8/19/2013	8
Clare, Pamela	Breaking Point (a)	2012	8/31/2013	8
Clare, Pamela	Skin Deep (a)	2013	10/6/2013	8
Clare, Pamela	First Strike	2013	10/20/2013	10
Clare, Pamela	Striking Distance	2013	11/6/2013	10
Clare, Pamela	Ride the Fire	2013	2/11/2013	10
Clare, Pamela	Upon A Winter's Night	2013	12/20/2013	8
Clayton, Alice	The Unidentified Redhead	2010	5/9/2013	8
Clearwing, August	Never Have I Ever	2013	4/8/2013	10
Cole, Courtney	If You Stay	2013	4/17/2013	10
Cole, Courtney	If You Leave	2013	8/9/2013	8
Cunning, Olivia	Share Me	2013	4/20/2013	6
Cunning, Olivia	Tempt Me	2012	1/9/2013	4
Cunning, Olivia	Take Me	2012	1/16/2013	8
Cunning, Olivia	Touch Me	2013	4/19/2013	10
Cunning, Olivia	Tie Me	2013	6/21/2013	10
Cunning, Olivia	Tell Me	2013	10/3/2013	8
Cunning, Olivia	Rock Hard	2011	1/1/2013	8
Cunning, Olivia	Hot Ticket	2013	2/8/2013	8
Cunning, Olivia	Wicked Beat	2013	8/22/2013	10
Cunning, Olivia	Double Time	2012	9/18/2013	8
Darhower, J.M.	Sempre (Forever)	2012	2/14/2013	10
Dawes, Casey	California Sunset	2012	1/28/2013	8
Dawes, Casey	California Wine	2012	6/20/2013	8
Dawes, Casey	California Homecoming	2013	7/5/2013	8
Dawn, Nyrae	Four Summers	2013	6/12/2013	8
Dawn, Nyrae	Measuring Up	2012	2/18/2013	8
Dawn, Nyrae	Charade	2012	1/27/2013	8
Dawn, Nyrae	Facade	2013	7/26/2013	8
Day, Sylvia	Afterburn	2013	11/2/2013	8
Day, Sylvia	Bared to You (a)	2012	10/30/2013	10
Day, Sylvia	Entwined with You	2013	6/4/2013	10
Donovan, Rebecca	Out of Breath	2013	7/15/2013	8
Evanovich, Janet	Notorious Nineteen	2012	3/26/2013	8
Evans, Katy	Real (a)	2013	10/7/2013	8
Evans, Katy	Real	2013	4/30/2013	10
Evans, Katy	Mine	2013	11/7/2013	10
Evans, Katy	Remy (a)	2013	12/19/2013	8
Evans, Katy	Remy	2013	11/26/2013	10
Fairstein, Linda	Death Angel	2013	8/16/2013	10
Force, Marie	Fatal Mistake	2013	6/19/2013	10
Force, Marie	Waiting for Love	2013	2/20/2013	8
Force, Marie	Time for Love	2013	8/2/2013	8
Force, Marie	Meant for Love	2013	12/22/2013	10
Frank, Ella	Blind Obsession	2013	4/15/2013	10
Frank, Ella	Exquisite	2012	2/10/2013	10
Frank, Ella	Entice	2013	2/12/2013	10
Frank, Ella	Edible	2013	7/4/2013	10
Frank, Ella	Try	2013	11/16/2013	10
Dean, Alicia	Lady in the Mist	2012	3/28/2013	6
Gabaldon, Diana	A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows	2012	1/5/2013	6
Garvis Graves, Tracey	On the Island	2012	1/2/2013	10
Garvis Graves, Tracey	Uncharted	2013	7/7/2013	10
Glines, Abbi	Twisted Perfection	2013	4/22/2013	6
Glines, Abbi	Never Too Far	2013	3/1/2013	8
Glines, Abbi	Forever Too Far	2013	7/21/2013	8
Godwin, Pam	Beneath the Burn	2013	10/6/2013	8
Halle, Karina	On Every Street	2013	4/27/2013	8
Halle, Karina	Sins & Needles	2013	5/2/2013	8
Halle, Karina	Shooting Scars	2013	10/19/2013	10
Halle, Karina	Bold Tricks	2013	10/20/2013	8
Hawkes, Cora	Rocked Under	2012	2/26/2013	8
Hebert, Cambria	Torch	2013	10/26/2013	6
Higgins, Kristan	The Best Man	2013	3/23/2013	8
Higgins, Kristan	Fools Rush In	2011	5/30/2013	6
Hill, Joey W.	Natural Law	2004	10/13/2013	10
Hobman, Lisa J.	Bridge Over the Atlantic	2013	8/11/2013	8
Hoover, Colleen	Losing Hope	2013	7/9/2013	10
Hoover, Colleen	Finding Cinderella	2013	10/18/2013	10
Hoover, Colleen	This Girl	2013	5/16/2013	10
Hornsby, Kim	Necessary Detour	2012	2/22/2013	6
Howard, Linda	Shadow Woman	2012	3/11/2013	6
Hunter, Elizabeth	Long Ride Home	2013	10/13/2013	10
Hunter, Elizabeth	Shifting Dreams	2013	3/17/2013	8
Hunter, Elizabeth	Building From Ashes	2012	10/17/2013	8
Hunter, Elizabeth	Waterlocked	2013	6/17/2013	6
Hunter, Elizabeth	Blood and Sand	2013	6/1/2013	10
Hunter, Elizabeth	The Genius and the Muse	2012	1/1/2013	8
Hunter, Elizabeth	The Scribe	2013	11/1/2013	10
James, Nicole	Outlaw	2013	4/19/2013	8
Jones, Lisa Renee	Escaping Reality	2013	11/11/2013	10
Jones, Lisa Renee	Infinite Possibilities	2013	11/12/2013	10
Jones, Lisa Renee	Rebecca's Lost Journals, Volume 1: The Seduction	2013	6/8/2013	6
Jones, Lisa Renee	Rebecca's Lost Journals, Volume 2: The Contract	2013	6/8/2013	6
Jones, Lisa Renee	Rebecca's Lost Journals, Volume 3: His Submissive	2013	6/8/2013	6
Jones, Lisa Renee	Rebecca's Lost Journals, Volume 4: My Master	2013	6/8/2013	6
Jones, Lisa Renee	Being Me	2013	6/13/2013	10
Jones, Lisa Renee	The Master Undone	2013	8/12/2013	10
Jones, Lisa Renee	Revealing Us	2013	9/11/2013	10
Jordan, Skye	Reckless	2013	9/9/2013	10
Jordan, Skye	Rebel	2013	12/31/2013	8
Child, Maureen	A Pocketful of Paradise	2012	3/8/2013	6
Kaye, Laura	Hard As It Gets	2013	12/5/2013	10
Kaye, Laura	Hearts in Darkness	2011	2/3/2013	10
Kenner, J.	Release Me	2013	1/22/2013	10
Kenner, J.	Claim Me	2013	4/23/2013	10
Kenner, J.	Complete Me	2013	7/31/2013	10
Kenner, J.	Take Me	2013	12/16/2013	10
Kent, Claire	Escorted	2012	2/25/2013	8
Landay, William	Defending Jacob	2012	1/10/2013	8
Lauren, Christina	Beautiful Bastard	2013	5/14/2013	6
Lauren, Christina	Beautiful Bitch	2013	8/12/2013	8
Lauren, Christina	Beautiful Stranger	2013	8/6/2013	10
Lauren, Christina	Beautiful Stranger	2013	5/22/2013	10
Lauren, Christina	Beautiful Bombshell (a)	2013	10/4/2013	8
Lauren, Christina	Beautiful Bombshell	2013	9/7/2013	8
Lauren, Christina	Beautiful Player	2013	11/22/2013	10
Lauren, Christina	Beautiful Beginning	2013	11/24/2013	8
Leighton, M.	Up to Me	2013	1/13/2013	8
Leighton, M.	Everything for Us	2013	9/16/2013	8
Leighton, M.	All the Pretty Lies	2013	11/19/2013	8
Lilley, R.K.	In Flight	2012	2/6/2013	6
Lilley, R.K.	Mile High	2012	2/16/2013	4
Lilley, R.K.	Grounded	2013	2/17/2013	8
Lippman, Laura	Charm City	2009	7/1/2013	6
Lynn, Cherrie	Light Me Up	2013	4/5/2013	10
Lynn, Cherrie	Breathe Me In	2013	6/14/2013	8
Lynn, Cherrie	Take Me On	2013	12/27/2013	8
Lynn, J.	Frigid	2013	7/20/2013	8
Lynn, J.	Wait for You	2013	4/7/2013	10
Lynn, J.	Trust in Me	2013	12/18/2013	8
Mac, J.L.	Wreck Me	2013	6/2/2013	6
Mac, J.L.	Restore Me	2013	6/2/2013	8
Mallery, Susan	Just One Kiss	2013	6/8/2013	8
Mallery, Susan	Two of a Kind	2013	7/11/2013	10
Mallery, Susan	Three Little Words	2013	8/3/2013	10
Mallery, Susan	Christmas on 4th Street	2013	10/13/2013	8
Malpas, Jodi Ellen	Beneath This Man	2013	1/18/2013	10
Malpas, Jodi Ellen	This Man Confessed	2013	7/4/2013	10
Malpas, Jodi Ellen	This Man Trilogy Keepsake Book	2013	8/15/2013	10
Marton, Dana	Deathscape	2012	1/24/2013	6
Mathewson, R.L.	Perfection	2011	1/3/2013	6
Maxwell, Gina L.	Rules of Entanglement	2013	3/31/2013	10
McGarry, Katie	Pushing the Limits	2012	2/24/2013	8
McGuire, Jamie	Walking Disaster	2013	4/3/2013	8
McHugh, Gail	Collide	2013	2/2/2013	6
McKenna, Cara	After Hours	2013	5/6/2013	10
McKenna, Cara	Willing Victim	2010	8/3/2013	8
McLaughlin, Heidi	Forever My Girl	2012	1/15/2013	6
Millay, Katja	The Sea of Tranquility	2012	5/12/2013	10
Miller, Linda Lael	Big Sky Country	2012	6/20/2013	6
Miller, Linda Lael	Big Sky Mountain	2012	6/26/2013	6
Miller, Linda Lael	Big Sky River	2013	7/2/2013	6
Miller, Linda Lael	Big Sky Summer	2013	8/27/2013	6
Miller, Raine	Naked (a)	2013	8/8/2013	10
Miller, Raine	All In (a)	2013	8/12/2013	10
Miller, Raine	Eyes Wide Open (a)	2013	8/13/2013	10
Miller, Raine	Eyes Wide Open	2013	5/14/2013	10
Miller, Raine	Cherry Girl	2013	12/2/2013	8
Montes, E.L.	Disastrous	2012	1/26/2013	6
Montes, E.L.	Cautious	2013	10/9/2013	8
Moyes, Jojo	Me Before You	2012	5/26/2013	10
Mummert, Teresa	The Note	2013	4/5/2013	6
Erickson, Karen	One Week Girlfriend	2013	2/18/2013	8
Erickson, Karen	Second Chance Boyfriend	2013	4/9/2013	8
Paige, Laurelin	Fixed on You	2013	12/18/2013	8
Paige, Laurelin	Found in You	2013	12/18/2013	8
Park, Jessica	Flat-Out Love	2012	1/11/2013	8
Park, Jessica	Flat-Out Matt	2013	6/29/2013	4
Pettersen, Bev	Color My Horse	2011	9/13/2013	6
Phillips, Carly	Serendipity	2011	4/4/2013	8
Phillips, Carly	Kismet	2011	4/11/2013	6
Phillips, Carly	Fated	2012	4/11/2013	6
Phillips, Carly	Destiny	2012	4/12/2013	8
Phillips, Carly	Karma	2012	4/15/2013	8
Phillips, Susan Elizabeth	It Had to Be You	2009	1/19/2013	10
Pierce, M.	Night Owl	2013	10/29/2013	6
Preston, Beverly	No More Wasted Time	2012	8/5/2013	10
Preston, Beverly	Shayla's Story	2013	8/6/2013	8
Proby, Kristen	Under the Mistletoe With Me	2012	1/9/2013	10
Proby, Kristen	Fight With Me	2012	1/4/2013	10
Proby, Kristen	Play With Me	2013	3/2/2013	10
Proby, Kristen	Rock With Me	2013	5/4/2013	10
Proby, Kristen	Safe With Me	2013	9/24/2013	10
Raeder, Leah	Unteachable	2013	9/21/2013	10
Redmerski, J.A.	The Edge of Always	2013	11/8/2013	8
Reed, J.C.	Surrender Your Love	2013	3/21/2013	8
Reed, J.C.	Conquer Your Love	2013	10/23/2013	8
Reed, J.C.	Treasure Your Love	2013	10/23/2013	8
Reichs, Kathy	Bones in Her Pocket	2013	8/20/2013	10
Reichs, Kathy	Bones of the Lost	2013	9/6/2013	8
Reyes, Elizabeth	Noah	2012	1/31/2013	6
Roberts, Nora	Chasing Fire (a)	2011	10/1/2013	8
Roberts, Nora	Whiskey Beach	2013	4/17/2013	10
Romig, Aleatha	Consequences	2011	9/28/2013	6
Romig, Aleatha	Truth	2012	9/30/2013	6
Romig, Aleatha	Convicted	2013	10/11/2013	6
Ryan, Kendall	Hard to Love	2013	1/14/2013	8
Ryan, Kendall	Resisting Her	2013	6/9/2013	8
Salsbury, J.B.	Fighting for Flight	2013	3/9/2013	10
Salsbury, J.B.	Fighting to Forgive	2013	11/20/2013	8
Scott, Kylie	Lick	2013	7/17/2013	10
Seiters, Nadene	Trouble	2013	8/3/2013	6
Sheehan, Madeline	UnBeautifully	2013	5/21/2013	8
Sheehan-Miles, Charles	A Song for Julia	2012	12/16/2013	8
Sheehan-Miles, Charles; Randall, Andrea	Nocturne	2013	10/25/2013	10
Snow, Emily	All Over You	2012	1/3/2013	8
Spencer, LaVyrle	Family Blessings	1995	12/8/2013	10
Stahl, Shey	Waiting for You	2013	3/14/2013	4
Stewart, Barbara	Rock and Roll Never Forgets	2013	9/22/2013	8
Stunich, C.M.	Losing Me, Finding You	2013	5/1/2013	6
Sykes, Julia	Monster	2013	4/13/2013	8
Sykes, Julia	Traitor	2013	4/13/2013	8
Sykes, Julia	Avenger	2013	5/5/2013	8
Taylor , J.S.	Close Up and Personal	2013	3/24/2013	8
Taylor , J.S.	The Berkeley Method	2013	3/25/2013	8
Taylor , J.S.	The Director's Cut	2013	5/19/2013	6
Taylor , J.S.	The Final Act	2013	8/24/2013	8
Tucker, K.A.	Ten Tiny Breaths	2012	1/20/2013	8
Tucker, K.A.	One Tiny Lie	2013	7/23/2013	10
Tucker, K.A.	Four Seconds to Lose	2013	11/9/2013	8
Van Dyken, Rachel	Ruin	2011	8/30/2013	10
Ward, J.R.	Lover Unbound	2007	1/17/2013	7
Webber, Tammara	Here Without You	2013	10/27/2013	10
Webber, Tammara	Easy (a)	2012	10/16/2013	10
Wilder, Jasinda	Falling Into You	2013	5/28/2013	6
Wylde, Joanna	Reaper's Property	2013	3/30/2013	10
Young, Samantha	Until Fountain Bridge	2013	5/27/2013	6

Exported from BookCollector 12/30/2013 5:10:15 PM

Book Review: Hard As It Gets by Laura Kaye

Title: Hard As It Gets
Series: Hard Ink #1
Author: Laura Kaye
Rating: 5 out of 5
Published: 11/26/2013
Publisher: Avon
Genre(s): Romantic Suspense

DESCRIPTION

Tall, dark, and lethal...

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it, too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...


 SUMMARY
Hard As It Gets is the first in a projected new series of four books by Laura Kaye. It is a 373 page romantic (erotic) suspense set in Baltimore, Maryland. The hero is Nick Rixey, an ex-soldier in Army Special Forces driven to take an Other Than Honorable discharge, and who is now co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo. The heroine is a nurse, Becca Merritt, whose missing brother left her a note to go find Nick. She was also the daughter of Nick's late commanding officer, a CO who Nick and the other surviving members of his team knew to be at fault for the lethal ambush that changed the course of their lives. The secondary characters are Jeremy Rixey, Nick's younger brother and business partner, Jess, Nick and Jeremy's employee, Miguel Olivero, a private investigator friend of Nick's, and Nick's ASF buddies, Beckett Murda, Edward Cantrell, Shane McCallan, and Derek DiMarzio. The main plot covers the course of action taken by Nick, Becca, and his team to find and rescue Becca's brother, Charlie. The goal of the story is achieved, and this installment concludes in a positive way.


 MY THOUGHTS
Hard As It Gets is the fourth book I've read by Laura Kaye; I enjoyed the preceding three (Her Forbidden Hero, One Night with a Hero, and Hearts in Darkness) very much! Couple that with this book being categorized as romantic suspense, my favorite genre, I'd say the odds were in my favor to find it amazing!

First, I'd like to mention how much I liked and admired the hero, heroine, and all the secondary characters in this novel. It was a pleasure getting to know them, and in a fancifully immersed reader kinda way, I felt honored to spend time with them. Beginning with the heroine, Becca Merritt, I'd say she is an ideally written female protagonist of this genre: capable, intelligent, and confidently sexy. Further, she shows remarkable control during several dangerous situations; but once the immediate danger is over, she allows herself to be comforted by the hero.

For example, here is what Nick thinks of Becca's self-control:

She’d called for help. Armed and defended herself. And held it together when help arrived. Smart f**king girl.

And an example of how she accepts Nick's tenderness:

“I’m not crying,” she said despite the wetness plain on her face. She shook her aching head, then pressed her cheek into his hand. “I’m not.”

See, perfect romantic suspense heroine!

She's a nurse so she can patch up the heroes when they're injured. She also allows herself to overreact during highly emotional moments but feels bad about it afterward.

“I just wanna kill someone right now. Which is . .  . a really f**king bad thing for a nurse to want to do.”

She has an unassuming sense of humor that often surfaces when she's nervous.

Jess: “Because, unlike you, I had sex last night and the guy ripped my thong off. Are you satisfied?”
Jeremy’s expression froze.
“Probably not as well as you are,” Becca said.

She's not afraid to tell the hero what she wants, but I didn't find her behavior smutty.

“I’m horny. And you’re hot as hell. And we’re clearly trying to be good. Although, I’m not sure why, exactly. And, anyway, I don’t want you to move. Because I like the feel of you. And I—”

I repeat. I really liked her. Now, on to Nicholas, excuse me, Nick—he hates to be called Nicholas: six foot three inches, chocolate brown hair, light green eyes, very muscular, has tattoos, does tattoos, drives a Dodge Challenger, and then there are all the wonderful character traits. Oh my, he is a hero in every (romantic) sense of the word. *fanning myself* He may be weary and jaded, but he is not entirely closed off. He has these words tattooed on his side, and they speak volumes toward his character:

LOYALTY
DUTY
RESPECT
SELFLESS SERVICE
HONOR
INTEGRITY
COURAGE

Living life by his strong moral code doesn't mean Nick won't be respectful when he talks dirty to Becca. :)

“Because I want to make you hold onto that bag while I bury myself in you so hard and so deep you don’t know your own name. But then tomorrow, in the light of day, when your brother’s still missing and we’re still trying to figure out the mystery of who broke into your house, getting f***ed by a stranger in a warehouse will be just one more thing you have to deal with. And I won’t do that to you.”

When Nick's buddies show up to help find Becca's brother, Charlie, well, all that romantic hero goodness gets multiplied by four: Beck, Easy, Shane, and Marz are gallant and gorgeous! (Just a thought that has me a tad bit concerned: Laura Kaye says there will be a total of four books in The Hard Ink Series, yet there are five handsome heroes. :\ )

I think Ms. Kaye does an outstanding job keeping the storyline suspenseful. There are clues to decipher and several edge-of-your-seat violent confrontations. In between those immediately dangerous times and the looming concern for Charlie's well being, there are several lighthearted moments—some much-needed levity, like this:

 “You seriously do ink?” Shane asked, hiking Becca’s medic kit on his shoulder.

Rixey braced. Oh, goody, something else for him to ride me about. “Yeah, I seriously do. Occasionally.” He shrugged.

“You any good?”

“Bare some skin and find out.”

Shane grinned, his expression making it clear he enjoyed harassing Nick. “If you wanna get me out of my clothes, lovah boy, you gotta wine and dine me first.”

What I Liked: Jeremy's naughty novelty shirts, Jess's ribald sense of humor, the page-turning chapter conclusions, the sharp writing and editing, and the delightfully fresh "soldier speak" the guys used to communicate with each other.

What I Didn't Like: No name for the puppy yet, really?! ;)

I Would Recommend it to mature readers who appreciate a suspenseful and erotic tale featuring military heroes with tattoos. Although it contains some explicit language and some sizzling scenes between the hero and heroine, I felt it was smexy (smart and sexy) rather than smutty.

The Next Installment: Hard As You Can has a release date of February 25, 2014, and will feature Shane McCallan as the hero.

   HIGHLIGHTS
Frank Merritt had stolen his career, his reputation, six of his best friends, and his f**king ability to sit or stand for any length of time without wanting to whimper like a little girl. ~ Nick   ~*~    I can’t believe I’m doing this. It was like an episode of Nurses Gone Wild. If such a show existed. Which it probably did. ~ Becca
~*~
“Damn,” Jess said, plopping onto one of the couches. “I think I should’ve joined the Army. Cause I would ride that convoy all day long.” Her face squinched up. “Not Nick, I mean. Just, you know, the other three.” ~ Jess  

Autograph from the Richmond Author Event 12/14/2013!

---